Rabbi Faivish Vogel, 88, AH

Rabbi Shraga Faivish Vogel, shliach to England for over 50 years and one of the first campus shluchim, who played an active role in recovering the seforim from the Rebbe’s library sold to dealers and collectors in Europe, passed away on Monday, 10 Cheshvan.

By Anash.org reporter

Rabbi Shraga Faivish Vogel, shliach to England for over 50 years and one of the first campus shluchim, who played an active role in recovering the seforim from the Rebbe’s library sold to dealers and collectors in Europe, passed away on Monday, 10 Cheshvan.

He was 89 years old.

Born in Manchester, England in 1936 to R’ Yaakov Kopel and Dobra Beila Vogel, in a traditionally observant Jewish family that was not affiliated with Chabad.

When he reached yeshiva age, he went to study at the Gateshead Yeshiva. After hearing about the Rebbe, he decided to write him a letter explaining how he felt that despite studying extensively, it wasn’t making him more refined in character. The Rebbe advised him to study with R’ Dovber Levin, son of R’ Yisroel Neveler, in nearby Sunderland. 

After spending a year learning and spending time with him, he was inspired to become a chossid himself. Later, he and his father were convinced by R’ Bentche Shemtov to relocate to the yeshiva in 770, where he stayed from Purim 5718 through Tishrei 5721. During that time, he and most of his family became Chabad Chassidim. 

As a young man, he would give a weekly Tanya shiur at Yeshiva University every Thursday night. He would regularly submit reports to the Rebbe about the class including participants’ questions, and often received detailed responses.

After his engagement to Dobrusha (Dusya), daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Hersh Charitonow, he requested that the Rebbe be mesader kidushin. The Rebbe agreed only after confirming through Rabbi Hodakov that the couple would immediately set out on shlichus to London. The Rebbe was indeed mesader kidushin on 16 Elul 5720.

Upon arriving in London, he joined Rabbi Nachman Sudak‘s activities and was among the first to work with Jewish students on campuses. He succeeded in bringing dozens of British youth closer to Yiddishkeit and Chassidus, one of the most notable being a student who later became Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

Alongside his work as a shliach and his assistance in establishing and strengthening the Lubavitch House and overall Chabad activities in London, he recruited wealthy donors for Chabad institutions worldwide.

When presented with an opportunity to become a passive business partner in a certain venture, the Rebbe expressed surprise at the very question, stating that his role was to be entirely dedicated to strengthening Torah in England rather than engaging in any form of commerce.

During the court case of the Rebbe’s Library, he served as the liaison who helped trace the books and manuscripts that had been sold and circulated among European book dealers and collectors, redeeming them and returning them to their place in the library, while receiving constant guidance and close supervision from the Rebbe through the mazkirus.

He was known for his eloquent speaking style and was occasionally invited to lead farbrengens in Chabad communities worldwide.

He is survived by his wife Dobrusha (Dusya), and their children: Rabbi Hirshy Vogel, London; Rabbi Mendy Vogel, London; Rabbi Yosef Vogel, Montebello, NY; Yanky Vogel, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mrs. Chana’le Prus, London; Mrs. Sorah’le Bukiet, Lexington, Massachusetts; Mrs. Hindy Drizin, Woodcliff Lake, NJ; Mrs. Beila Dubrawski, Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Rivka Goldschmidt, Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Chaya Rosenberg, Crown Heights.

Boruch Dayan Ha’emes.

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  1. I attended Rabbi Vogel’s weekly (sometimes bi-monthly) shiur for more than 20 years. It was a remarkable shiur. Rabbi Vogel’s insights were penetrating and insightful. He was one of the most impactful forces on my life and my life philosophy. His presence will be greatly missed by myself and by many. The Sunday morning shiur which he gave regularly spanned over 50 years and for many of those years it went unrivaled as the spiritual highlight of my week.

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